Electron discharge apparatus



April! w, 1135. A. E. LYLE 3 ELECTRON DISCHARGE APPARATUS Filed Jan. 30,1929 manufactured.

Patented Apr. 30, 1935 ELECTRON DISCHARGE APPARATUS Andrew Ernest Lyle,Cambridge, Mass, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Old Colony TrustCompany, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 30, 1929,Serial No. 336,243 Renewed January 23, 1933 11 Claims. '(o1. 250 27.5),

This invention relates to electron discharge apparatus and especially torectifiers. An object of my invention is to devise a structure whichwill be simple, sturdy, compact, easily and cheaply As is well known, inthe manufacture of electron discharge devices, especially in vacuumtubesand rectifiers, it is essential that the structure be as simple aspossible in order that the manufacturing costs may be reduced. On the.other hand, it is desirable that mechanically and electrically thestructure be suitable for the purposes desired. In general, therectifier embodying my invention is characterized by substantiallystraight supports allowing the use of heavier spring arbors, a minimumnumber of welds, and a structure which is so compact andsturdy, that therectifier will withstand rough handling, as in transit, without anysubstantial damage thereto.

Referring to the drawing, 7

Figure l is a side elevation View with a portion of the plate brokenaway;

Figure 2 is a view at right angles to Figure l, and showing portions ofthe device in section;

Figure 3 is a detail View of the stem;

Figure 4 is a plan view looking down on. top of the tube with certainparts broken away. 7

The rectifier disclosed herein is of the high vacuum thermionic typehaving two cathodes and two plates connected for full waverectification. The rectifier comprises a stem I having wings 2. It willbe noted that these wings are not at right angles to each other,although they may be; The angle and extent of the wingsis chosen withthe purpose of obtaining a predetermined clearance between the cornersthereof as well as long surface paths for insulation.

If the rectifier is to withstand high potentials, I prefer to constructthe stem in accordance with my copending application, Serial No.336,244, filed January 30, 1929 wherein I have disclosed and claimedsuch a structure. In that case, I have disclosed a method ofconstructing a stem having long surface paths for insulation. Brieflythe stem is constructed as follows. An ordinary glass tube from whichall stems are made is taken and has one end flared in accordance withusual practice. The other end is also flared. The top end is thensuitably shaped by machinery so that wings at desired angles are formedthereon. In this manner, the wing extent is substantially increasedwhile using standard materials on standard machines.

Sealed in the wings arearbors 4, 5, 6, and 1. As shown, these arborsextend upward and parallel to each other. By having the arbors straight,it is possible to use heavier wire having considerable spring thereto.Engaging each pair of arbors are anodes or plates [0. These plates arecomposed of two U shaped members, a larger member II and a smallermember [2, and are suitably welded or crimped at their meeting edges toform a hollow rectangular space therebetween. The complete plate membersI0 are welded to the pairs of arbors 4, 5 and 6, 1, respectively. Abovethe plate members and engaging the ends of the arbor is an insulatingmember I5 of any suitable material, preferably mica. This member isrectangularly shaped and has its four corners pierced by the fourarbors. This member may be of any shape and extent whatever. It isevident that the member retains the wires passing through it inpredetermined relationship thus keeping the parts in position. Thismakes for rigidity and strength.

Sealed in the intermediate portion of Press I are supports 20, 2|, 22,23, 24 and 25. Supports 22 and 23 extend upwardly, piercing mica member15. Welded to the top of these supports are spring members 28 whichextend outwardly over the space enclosed by the plates. These springmembers have a loop or bight in their end for supporting filamentarycathodes 30. The ends of the filaments 3!! are suitably welded to theremaining supports 26, 2|, 24 and 25. These supports are bent over toproject underneath the space enclosed by the plates in order to meet thefilaments.

To reduce the number of external connections, a Wire is welded from oneend of one filament to another end of the other filament, thus joiningthe filaments in series. The heating current will pass from one terminalof one of the filaments through the filament, through wire 35 of theother terminal of the filament, through that filament and then out.Rectified current will pass alternately from the filaments to one of theplates). It is evident that it would be very simple to make a half waverectifier out of the structure by connecting the plates together.Suitable leads make connection for the heating and rectified currents.

The rectifier is enclosed in a glass envelope in accordance withcustomary practice. This envelope is exhausted to a high vacuum and themetal parts freed of their occluded gases. In order to clean up anyremaining impurities, a bell 50 suitably supported by a Wire 5| Weldedto one of the supporting arbors, has a getter therein. This getter maybe magnesium, calcium, misch metal or any of the-usual chemicals. Inorder to cause the getter to function, the bell is flashed.

From the above it is evident that the rectifier is easy and cheap tomanufacture because of the few bends necessary. It will also be notedthat there are but few welds to make. It is evident that a rectifier ofthis construction will be able to withstand shipment and rought handlingincident thereto. Furthermore, due to the press construction, there is acomparatively long distance along the surface of the glass between anytwo points having a great difierence of potential. This is an importantfeature since rectifiers handling heavy currents at high voltages areliable to break down at the press. The glass becomes hot and has asmaller resistance than when cold, thus resulting in a certain amount ofconduction. This conduction causes electrolysis in the glass and breaksdown the seals.' Hence, the

press construction is such thatmaximum protec tion against flashovers issecured while at the same time the desired spacing between arbors isattained so that it is unnecessary to bend them.

I claim: v

1, A space discharge device comprising a press, four arbors projectingupwardly from said press and sealed therein, two anodes, each anodesupported by two of said arbors, an insulating member rigidlymechanically interconnecting the upper ends of said anodes, supportingmembers sealed in said press, a pair of filamentary cathodes, and meansfor supporting said pair of filamentary cathodes in cooperativerelationship to said anodes.

2. A space discharge device comprising a press, four arbors sealedtherein and extending upwardly therefrom, two anodes, each anodesupported by two of said arbors, an insulating member rigidlymechanically interconnecting the upper ends of said anodes and supportedby said arbors, a plurality of supports sealed in the press and meansfor supporting two cathodes from said supports, each of said cathodescooperating with an anode.

3. A space discharge device comprising a press, four arbors sealedtherein, two plates, each of said plates supported by two of saidarbors, additional supporting means sealed in said press, saidadditional supporting means including two straight standards ofsubstantially the same length as the arbors, two filamentary cathodes,and means for supporting said two filamentary cathodes in cooperativerelationship with said anodes on said supporting means.

4. A space discharge device comprising a press, four straight arborssealedin said press and defining the edges of a rectangular prism, twoplates, each plate supported by two of said arbors, means for rigidlymechanically interconnecting thetops of said plates, each of said twoplates enclosing a hollow space, supporting wires sealed in said press,certain of said supporting wires being bent over so that their ends areunder the space enclosed by the anodes, others of said supporting wiresextending upwardly, two filaments, and means for supporting said twofilaments within the space defined by the anodes and between saidsupporting wires.

'5. A space discharge device comprising a press, standards sealed insaid press, a plurality of plates directly secured to and supported bysaid standards, an insulating member above said plates and engaged bysaid standards and retaining them in predetermined relationship, aplurality of additional standards between said plates and engaging saidinsulating member, supporting wires sealed in said press, filamentarycathodes and means for supporting said filamentary cathodes between saidadditional standardsand said supporting wires.

6. A space discharge device comprising a press having angularly disposedwings, standards sealed in said wings, a plurality of plates secured toand supported by said standards, an insulating member above saidplatesaand engaged by said standards, additional standards sealed insaid press disposed between said plates and engaging said insulatingmember, supporting wires sealed in said press, and a plurality offilamentary cathodes supported between said additional standards andsaid supporting wires.

7. A space discharge device comprising a press, said press having atubular lower portion, said press having fourangularly disposed wingsextending beyond the space defined by said tubular portion, a standardsealed in each of said wings,

a plurality of plates supported by said standards,

an insulating member engaged by'said 'standards, said insulating memberbeing directly above said plates, additional members sealed insaidpress, filamentary cathodes and means for supporting said filamentarycathodes in cooperative relationship to said plates by said additionalmembers.

8. A space discharge device'comprising a. press having a plurality ofwings lying in more than one plane, a plurality of arbors lying in morethan one plane and sealed at their lower ends in said wings, a pluralityof anodes, one of said anodes being supported at its lower end by atleast two of said' arbors lying in one plane, another of said anodesbeing supported at itslower end by at least one arbor lying in anotherplane; a plurality of additional supports sealed in said press, aplurality of cathodes in cooperative relationship to said anodes, eachof said cathodes being supported at its lower end by at least one ofsaid additional supports, and' means for mechanically connecting theupper ends of all of said anodes and cathodes, whereby each of saidelectrodes are supported by arbors-lying ina plurality of planes.

9. A space discharge device comprising a press having a plurality ofwings lying in more than one plane, a plurality of arbors lying in morethan one plane and sealed at their lower ends in said wings; a pluralityof plates supported by'said arbors, an insulating member connected tothe upper ends of all of said arbors, additional sup ports sealed insaid press; a plurality of cathodes cooperating with said plates, saidcathodes being supported at their lower ends by said addi' tionalsupports, and means-for supporting the upper ends of said cathodes, saidmeans being mechanically connected to said insulating mem ber;

10. A space current tube comprising a gas tight vessel having a presswith aplurality of wings lying in more than one plane, a plurality ofarbors lying in more than one plane sealed at their lower ends insaidwings, twoor' more anodes, two or more cathodes cooperating withsaid anodes, said cathodes and said anodes being each insulatinglyheldby at least three arbors lying in morethan oneplane. 11. A spacecurrent, tube; comprising a gastight vessel, a stem within said vessel,a plurality of arbors lying in more than one plane anchored at theirlower ends tosaid stem, twoor more anodes, two or more cathodescooperating with said anodes, said anodes and said cathodes being eachsupported by'at least three arbors lying in more than one plane.

ANDREW ERNEST @ERTlFlCATE OF GGRRECTMN.

Patent No, 1,999,300 April 30, 1935.

ANDREW ERNEST LYLE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2,first column, line 31, claim 2, after "press" insert the commas andwords two cathodes; and line 32, of said claim, alter "supporting"insert the word said; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith these corrections therein that the same may conform to the recordof the case in the Patent Office Signed and sealed this 11th day ofJune, A. 9. i935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

